ode to winter {only about a week and a half late}

i was thinking today, when i came across these photos {while searching for something completely different}, how we'll likey not see snow here again until next winter. i think an ever-so-slight tinge of sadness even crept up in me as i thought about it. having moved to our new house in winter, i haven't known these surroundings in any other "light" besides a snowy one. and though i'm getting excited about finding out what's out there in my yard, as i'm already starting to see green shoots pop up here and there, i can't help but think i'll miss the snow we've had a little bit.

someone better check on me over here, 'cause it is not at all like me to use the words "miss" and "snow" in the same sentence!

it had me thinking that, when it comes down to it, we had a pretty good winter. it was made picturesque with just enough snow, without being made treacherous from several heavy snowfalls as was the case a few winters ago {during my pregnancy, of course}. not that this winter turned out to be anything like last winter {which was a "balmy" one much of the time}. 'twas a bit colder this year. but if it means some magical snowfalls here and there, i'm okay with that.

bottom line, i'm grateful for the pretty first winter we had here. some great memories were created during our first three months in this new house. and snow was one of the strokes to the picture that was painted. i'm so glad i took the time to take some shots like these... of our views out the front, the back and the side.

don't be fooled. these shots almost make it seem as if we live in the middle of nowhere. but, in fact, we've got plenty of close-by neighbors. you just have to know what angle to shoot at to make it look like you live on endless acres of flowing land. shooting smack-dab in the middle of a heavy snowfall doesn't hurt creating this illusion, either. =)

anyway, i'm guessing it's the fact that winter was not too harsh that is making the late arrival of spring more bearable. in addition, there's the fact that we have had about six sunny days in a row here... practically unheard of in these parts!

we're due for a few more days of way-below-normal temps. but we haven't seen snow for days... maybe weeks. so spring is on the way. i just know it. not spring-on-paper spring. spring-like-the-kind-you-feel-on-your-skin-and-smell-with-your-nose spring.

happy dance.